Fun with her new toy stroller

I apologize for the video not coming out brighter but the sentiments are still there and hysterical! Enjoy!

Putting a Christmas present to good use

I went grocery shopping last night and made great use of one of my Christmas gifts from my parents, err, I mean Santa. They bought for me a set of Baggu re-usable shopping bags. I am in love!

My friend Molly blogged about them this past summer and while always on my list of things to buy, I never made the purchase. How I wish I had gotten them sooner! They fold up tiny enough to stuff into any bag, purse or jacket pocket, they're very durable AND they come in lots of fun styles and colors. Oh, and they're good for the environment in that you can stop using the plastic bags from the grocery stores and load and un-load to your heart's content.

Christmas Day with the Pitocco's

We drive down early Christmas morning to spend a couple days with my family in Maryland. My family waits for us to arrive before opening gifts and then we literally eat for the remainder of the day (which for anyone is fantastic, but for a pregnant women is beyond incredible)!

Not interested in opening her own gifts, Sofia watches us all from the couch


Antonio and I taking turns opening gifts


Nonna Lisa opening Sofia's new Dyson (I don't even have a Dyson!)


Too much eggnog!


Nothing like a sugar cookie to perk her up


Homecoming shot in front of the tree of Scott & Chaela


Awww!

Christmas Eve with The Palumbi's

Each Christmas we spend Christmas Eve with Anthony's family and then Christmas Day with my family in Maryland. Eve is usually spent at dinner at La Locanda, followed by the children's mass and then to either my in-laws home or our home for the opening of gifts. Here are a few pictures from Christmas Eve:

Our annual Christmas Eve dinner at La Locanda


Sofia loved her brown bear from Nonna Maria & Nonno Mario


Simon's attempt at stifling a yawn


Uncle Dan helping Sofia open her next gift


Hanging out with Baby Simon


Sofia loved looking at the ornaments on the tree

Buon Natale!

It's not the presents under the tree that matter but rather the loved ones you have around you and in your hearts on this Christmas Day. May you all have a healthy, joyful and heartwarming Christmas!

Little Ms. Personality

All dolled up!


Doesn't she look like she's giving a presentation?


Funny face for the camera

It's time to party!

We celebrated Anthony's 31st birthday Sunday evening with family, a few friends and a whole lot of fun. It was Simon's, Sofia's baby cousin, first official party and although he slept through most of the evening, we think he had a good time. Hope you had a great birthday, love!


Showing support for their Philadelphia Eagles - Uncle Danny, Simon & Sofia


My dad got a hold of Baby Simon for a bit during the evening


Awwwww!


Pouring champagne for the group...not for Sofia, don't worry


Sofia got her hands on some of the desserts





Nonno and Simon


The birthday boy hanging out with his 3-week-old nephew

Buon Compleanno Anthony!

Sofia and I love you so much and wish you the best birthday! Happy 31 years and to many, many more happy times ahead!

The lights are up!

Anthony put up the Christmas lights around our front porch yesterday and they look very festive and holiday-y. Sofia supervised him the entire time from inside the front door like the good little boss that she is. Returning from an engagement/holiday party last night, we took a drive through our neighborhood to show her all the other Christmas decorations up and I do have to say that our neighborhood has put on a very good showing this year. Maybe there's some contest that we don't know about...

Wrestler in the making?

Look who I caught touching the Christmas ornaments...

She jumped a little when she realized I was watching her and giggled the entire time I snapped a few photos of her caught in the act. Luckily, I've placed all the safer ornaments on the bottom of the tree so it's really not a big deal that she touch them, I just like to tease her about touching things she's not supposed to. What a stinker!

Happy Love Thursday!

Sofia is very blessed to have 4 grandparents and 3 great-grandparents who love her very much. Through pictures, talking on the phone and spending time in person with them Sofia has grown to love each one of them very much too. Because Italy isn't a short drive away, pictures are really all that we have to keep her in touch with her Nonna Linda in Abruzzo and every morning we go out to wish her "Buon Giorno" and to give her picture a kiss. In just a short time, I am sure Sofia will be able to speak with her great-grandmother in Italy and tell her herself how much she loves her!

With her Bisnonna Linda in Italy in the summer of 2007









And a couple from this past summer in Italy:

Mia

Sofia is still head over heels for her "mia" and does not like to have to part with it ever. The only times she is not allowed to have mia is when she's eating or when she's taking a bath (mia doesn't like the water). So, after cuddling with mia all night, she funny about letting her go in the morning before breakfast. We have a stool in the kitchen and lately she's been keeping her safely there while she's away in her highchair eating. It's a little show of her taking mia to the stool to "sit" and after about 5 or 6 "bye mia", she's ready to part ways with it to go eat. It's really so cute to see how attached she's gotten and how it makes her so happy. Thank goodness we chose something so easily replaceable for washings and replacements...sold in packs of 6 at Babies'R'Us!

My baking assistant

Sofia's just as excited as I am about all this holiday baking. She loves grabbing measuring cups, spoons and even pot holders away from me and running around the 1st floor with them giggling! At least with all the extra sweets I'm eating, I'm able to burn the energy off by keeping up with her.

Surprise!

We were in Maryland briefly this past weekend for a very good friend's Surprise 30th Birthday and we had a fantastic time! Katie is one of my oldest friends, actually one of the very first I met when my family first moved to America when I was 7. We've been through a lot together...school, bad boyfriends, lots of great times, our weddings, our children...it's really been incredible to share so much with someone that isn't related by blood but that you feel you probably could have been in a previous life. Anyway, this past weekend her husband threw her a surprise party and she indeed was surprised!

Surprise! She thought someone broke into her home and screamed bloody murder when she walked through the door!


Sofia playing with the many other children in attendance


Katie's nephew, Carter...he giggled the afternoon away!


Friends forever


"Happy Birthday!" Katie's son Gabe helps to blow out the candle

Sofia's 1st Christmas Gift

Sofia received her first Christmas gift of the year on Friday from Aunt Roseanne, Uncle Paul, Carlo and Jenna from Pittsburgh and she was VERY excited! She does love receiving mail!!! She took her time opening the beautifully wrapped present and her little squeal properly conveyed her happiness at what was inside.





2 new books! Sofia loves to read and both will be a very nice addition to her growing collection!



Thank you very much Aunt Roseanne, Uncle Paul, Carlo & Jenna!!!

A stroll through the countryside

Whenever we're in Italy, Anthony and I try to make a point to head out for a few hours on a lazy drive through the country so I can snap up some pictures. We rarely take a map with us while on these drives and have the best time breathing in the Italian air. Here are a few from a drive through the hills near his family's home in Abruzzo this past July:





Anthony standing proudly with Abruzzo at his back